Railroad-fusee



(No Model.)

F. JORDAN.

RAILROAD FUSEE.

Patented Jan. 18, 1887.

1V1 TJV ESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRA-NK JORDAN, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

RAlLROAD-FUSEE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356,135, dated January 18, 1887.

Application filed September 9, 1886. Serial No.2l3,096. (No model.)

conveying to that train such intelligence as the known regulations of that particular road attaches to the presence of what is known in railroading as a fusee.

\Vith this end in view the invention consists,

essentially, in providing a sel f-righting cage or holder for a torch or fusee, being so made that when thrown from a train it will right itself, so as to exhibit the flame and prevent its being put out should it fall in snow or shallow water.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and on which similar letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding features, Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view of my improved device; Fig. 2, a plan view of the ring and stays for sustaining the upper end of the fusee; Fig. 3, a side elevation of a modified manner of constructing the device, and Fig. 4 a plan view thereof.

The letters A, A, and A designate three frame wires or hoops secured together in any convenient manner-,A and A being vertically disposed and at right angles to each other, and A at right angles to the others or horizontally disposed.

A and A are preferably secured to a ring, B, at their upper ends, which forms an opening for the insertion of the fusee and for the passage of the flame should it rise above the frame. To these wires are attached any suitable number of annular wires, 0, so as to form a strong but light cage or holder for the torch or fusee. A ring or collar, D, is held within the frame near the upper end of the fusee bya plurality of stays, E, for the purpose of sustainlng that end of the fusee.

The letter F designates a weight or anchor,

preferably constructed of cast-iron androunded on its exterior to agree with the general contour of the frame, to which itis secured by solder, or otherwise. This weight carries aholder, G, for the lower end of the fusee or torch. Thus it will be seen that when the frame is thrown from a train upon the road-bed it will right itself automatieally under the influence of gravity by reason of the superior weight of the anchor F, whatever he the position in which it falls.

It is obvious that the detail construction of the cage or holder may be largely varied without departing from the essential feature of the invention-that of self-righting.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated one of numerous modified forms of construction. In this figure the letter H designates a wooden block, which is provided at its lower part with an anchor or weight, I, (shown in dotted lines,) and held by a suitable screw, J. The block is rounding and has a somewhat flat bottom, while its upper portion is preferably'tapered somewhat, so as to render that portion lighter, forming a suitable holder for the lower end of the torch or fusee.

To support the upper end of the fusee, I provide a metallic plate, K, having an aperture, L, and a series of wires, M, one wire constituting two stays, the ends of which are secured to the block,and the bent upper portions of which are held by turning the edges of the plate K over them. If this form is used, care should be taken to so drop the fusee that it is not likely to strike directly on the end of the fnsee, as it would likely destroy the flame. If, however, it strikes on the bottom or on the side,the flame is not injured, as in the latterinstance the stay wires and plate protect the flame. The preferred form, however, is that shown in Fig. 1.

The torch or fusee proper may be madein any of the ways now known to the trade, and it forms no part of this invention. The use of the present rail-torpedoes is objectionable, because of the difficulty of attaching them to the rail without stopping the train, which in many instances would cause the very accident which the torpedoes/are intended to prevent. Again, even after they are applied to the rail it frequently happens that they fail to explode.

With my improved self-righting torch-signal, however, no difliculty is experienced in casting it from therear of the train, and the flame is protected by the character of the cage, while if it falls in snow or mud it will immediately right itself. Again, even if it falls where desired, it is still necessary thatthe flame should be upright; hence the necessity for the selfrighting quality. These fusees are made to burn a given length of time, which length is known by the engineers, and an instance of using this device may be given as follows:

A train, No. 1, is behind time, and the engineer finds himself unable toincreasehis speed and make up the lost time, and it is therefore expedient that the train next in his rearshould be notified. For this purpose a fusee is cast from No. 1 as a signal to No. 2 that No. 1 is nearer than schedule time would indicate.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure b Letters Patent, is s 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a

visual signal consisting of a flame-producing element and a cage supporting and protecting the same and provided with a superior weight in a given part, so as to self-right the device when cast from a train.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a spherical open-work frame provided with a superior weight in a given portion thereof and carrying a flame-producing element.

3. As an improved article of manufacture, a. visual signal. consisting of a spherical wire frame composed of numerous circular wires se cured together and having an opening in the upper portion thereof, a collar sustained by stays, and a weight secured opposite to the opening and carrying a'fusee.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK JORDAN.

Witnesses:

EDWIN L. BRADFORD, E. L. WHITE. 

